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AFP - Former New Zealand rugby league international Shontayne Hape was named in England's squad for the Six Nations rugby union tournament.

The 28-year-old Hape, uncapped in union, was joined in the 32-man squad selected by England manager Martin Johnson by another former rugby league player who has yet to make his England debut in Northampton's in-form wing Chris Ashton.

Hape, who won 14 caps for the Kiwis in the 13-man code, joined fellow centre Riki Flutey and hooker Dylan Hartley as the third New Zealand-born player in the England squad.

The back has been monitored by the England management since moving to Bath from Bradford Bulls rugby league club in 2008.

Hape qualified for England on residency grounds and has been selected ahead of Shane Geraghty and Ayoola Erinle, who both played in England's November series, to replace Gloucester's injured 2003 World Cup-winner Mike Tindall.

If Hape features during the Six Nations, he will become the third former New Zealand rugby league international to play for England after Henry Paul and Lesley Vainikolo.

"It gives us some good competition and depth in that area," Johnson, explaining Hape's selection, told reporters at a Twickenham news conference here on Wednesday.

"His defence is outstanding, he's not an inexperienced guy. He has the ability to off-load and make good decisions so it's fantastic to have him in there."

Johnson, England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain, insisted the presence of several New Zealand-born players was not an issue as far as he was concerned.

"I've played with guys born overseas all my career," Johnson said. "It's what they do when they are in there that matters.

"You could never doubt (South Africa-born) Mike Catt's commitment to England."

Hape has been brought in to bolster the attacking options of an England side that managed just one try in three Tests in November, during a win over Argentina that fell between defeats by Australia and New Zealand.

Ashton has scored 15 tries in 16 matches in all competitions so far this term and the 22-year-old wing has formed a productive partnership in the Saints back three with Ben Foden, also called up into the England squad on Wednesday.

"He's not (just) a 22-year-old - he's been around and it's a great chance for him," Johnson said of Ashton.

But as well as the new boys there was a place in the squad for 2003 World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and flanker Lewis Moody, England's outstanding performer in November.

However, Wasps playmaker Danny Cipriani was chosen instead for the second-string Saxons.

But Nick Easter, Delon Armitage, Flutey and Toby Flood, who all missed the November campaign through injury, were though included in the senior squad.

"It's a good thing we have some of those core guys back in," said Johnson.

And with England having finished runners-up to grand slam champions Ireland last season, Johnson added: "We've got a good enough group of players to think about winning any game in the Six Nations."

England backs coach Brian Smith admitted recently he had been "over-prescriptive" in his November pre-match planning and thus stifled some potential attacking flair.

"We all recognised that," said Johnson, who has lost eight of his 14 Tests in charge since taking over in April 2008, "and we had a very frank discussion with the players last week."

Former lock Johnson refused to say whether second row Steve Borthwick, England's captain in November would lead the side out for their Six Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham on February 6.

"No captain will be named until before the first game - that's the way it's always been," Johnson said.

Wales well-beaten 33-12 by Australia last time out in Cardiff in November and Johnson said: "They'll be under pressure but so are we to a degree. That's the nature of the game."